Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-07-25
MONDAY; Jun rs 1857.

4 IT. Z z 60 - Y
How the People Enjoy the Day-Women.
~ AT theAs " ELI
II Is tlis creek Easter, and many are in
town from the surfdunding country, while
Of Nazarenes, every one seems. ia be out
Of doors: All.day long the shady olive
grove between the monastery and the
church has resounded to the cries Of chill
adren running hitherapd thither, or swing
ing to and FRO under. the swayiRg branches.
The entire escllard meadow IS onelkaleid
oscope 81 color, for these Greeks have
III eye to that, and are evidently trying to
Guido in glory the peoples and daisies at
their feet. In comfortable looking groups
sit fathers and mothers and all sorts of
relatives, chatting and singing and thor
oughly enjoying the glad Easter Not the
slightest indccerHm, II Syou, please, but
eycryi,odys triiulners in harmony with
best bib and tickcrapd that means q
great deal where bibs are In the rarest of
colorings and fuckers ia the quaintest Of
contrasts. All are having d heartily good
and joyous time, as BELTS those who had
heen to mass BY aud by come rich robed
priests IN procession, chanting and bear
ing as rich banners; the event of the day
to the crowd was it, great the interest;
and then afterwards the buzz Of lively
conversation again. How cheerful and
ilatEral il al seemed.
II one cannot have historical and sacred
remains hegcin find several good foreign
schools, orphSnages, hospitals, and other
endetsars of the missionaries, surely more
oppressive of the Christ child and hi.
ss.s.s4l til,sn any ;snuunJ of shrine worship.
.kIi.. bf tifat child with his virgin mother,
tic oilc spring which in any uge has re
fsesIsed the NaG;srclies, speaks in no I'm
A eloquent TiEnling voice, for nowadays the
sight about lne basin with its stone gable
cannot be very different from that seen
here in those days of old. The women in
their gayly embroidered jackets, in the pc
culiar adornings Of strings of coins falling
over the forehead, and representing, ] sup
pose, their entire dowry, the women are
c-cwding about, water jar on head, await
ing patiently or impatiently their turn,
and passing IL possible the jars over the
ke;las Of t.4cir intervening sisters to the
friends at court, namely at the fountain,
precisely us man at the tell end Of line
will beg Il friend near the Office to buy his
railway or tiieater ticket for him. What
{ medley Of costumes! What medley
Of tonguesl Even il some poor souls must
needs bide their time, evidently no
moment is lost, judging from the rapid
and by no means low voiced converse
ton; and from the laughter it is likely
that joke, more or less modest, is not
wanting The women here. are not so
strict about yelling their faces, the catch
ing one end Of their long head drapery IN
the mouth being considered quite sufii-
cient upon the approach Of one Of the
lords Of creation, and they do 1t coquet
tishly enough, too. Coming to the spring
bearing on their heads the empty water
jars, tilted to one side, or returning bear
ing them filed and upright they are al
ways statuesque. and beautiful creatures
to look upon, beyond their sisters Of any
Palestine town, unless Bethelehem be
instanced, and the joining Of these two
places In this regard brings often to mind
that wife of Joseph, who must have many
a time visited this well to draw water.
Here comes now such a Madonna face,
and, 10, by the hand Is held B chubby
little child who looks at us with his great
searching eyes as the Christ might have
done.
If q multitude of absurd traditions dis
gust, one such sight as this, and III such
place, will atone for any irritation, for the
Bible becomes thereafter no book to be
read at arms length, but d living, human
story, as it is q divine one - Palestine
Cor. Cleveland Leader,